Kerry's cruise on-board Celebrity Silhouette - Sailing from Rome to Venice via Malta and the Greek Islands
The beautiful Silhouette changed my expectation of large ship cruising. I was somewhat nervous of joining 2885 passengers on this 16 deck ship. I need not have worried and the entire experience exceeded my expectations. The organisation was so efficient that passengers moved freely on and off the ship. There were no huge queues or delays, something that I was worried about. I don't 'do queues'!
The crew were fantastic. The captain mentioned that his ship is his crew’s home and they loved sharing it with guests. Every crew member was empowered to be themselves. The service was exceptional with that friendly exchange of conversation that really makes you feel special. Names were remembered and greetings were genuine. The 'welcome back' from all as we rejoined the ship along with cool towels and cold drinks did mean we felt we were 'home'.
Our cabin was spacious with a balcony. Previously I had felt that a balcony was worth the extra cost if cruising close to shore in certain parts of the world. Having enjoyed the experience of lying in bed listening to the waves, sitting on the balcony and simply enjoying throwing open the door to fill the cabin with fresh sea air - a balcony is now essential!
We booked Aqua Class which provided for extra in-cabin amenities, unlimited access to the Persian Garden area of the spa with Sauna and Steam rooms and a private relaxation area. This category also gave us access to the special restaurant Blu which made dining a more intimate affair for breakfast and dinner. We also tried other special restaurants, all excellent and the main dining room. I did prefer the smaller dining experience, although the food was excellent everywhere. The drinks package is also well worth considering if your cruise is not a fully inclusive ship. It's good value and does away with signing chits for everything.
We joined our ship in Rome and left in Venice, visiting Naples, Malta, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Athens and Kusudasi. A great variety of ports on a well-balanced itinerary. The highlight - Ephesus, an excursion from Kusudasi. My second visit and it's just mind blowing. ... But that's another story....
Celebrity Cruise - Rome to Venice
Kerry's cruise on-board Celebrity Silhouette - Sailing from Rome to Venice via Malta and the Greek Islands
The beautiful Silhouette changed my expectation of large ship cruising. I was somewhat nervous of joining 2885 passengers on this 16 deck ship. I need not have worried and the entire experience exceeded my expectations. The organisation was so efficient that passengers moved freely on and off the ship. There were no huge queues or delays, something that I was worried about. I don't 'do queues'!
The crew were fantastic. The captain mentioned that his ship is his crew’s home and they loved sharing it with guests. Every crew member was empowered to be themselves. The service was exceptional with that friendly exchange of conversation that really makes you feel special. Names were remembered and greetings were genuine. The 'welcome back' from all as we rejoined the ship along with cool towels and cold drinks did mean we felt we were 'home'.
Our cabin was spacious with a balcony. Previously I had felt that a balcony was worth the extra cost if cruising close to shore in certain parts of the world. Having enjoyed the experience of lying in bed listening to the waves, sitting on the balcony and simply enjoying throwing open the door to fill the cabin with fresh sea air - a balcony is now essential!
We booked Aqua Class which provided for extra in-cabin amenities, unlimited access to the Persian Garden area of the spa with Sauna and Steam rooms and a private relaxation area. This category also gave us access to the special restaurant Blu which made dining a more intimate affair for breakfast and dinner. We also tried other special restaurants, all excellent and the main dining room. I did prefer the smaller dining experience, although the food was excellent everywhere. The drinks package is also well worth considering if your cruise is not a fully inclusive ship. It's good value and does away with signing chits for everything.
We joined our ship in Rome and left in Venice, visiting Naples, Malta, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Athens and Kusudasi. A great variety of ports on a well-balanced itinerary. The highlight - Ephesus, an excursion from Kusudasi. My second visit and it's just mind blowing. ... But that's another story....
